The first two months of 2024 have been slow at the box office. There have been far more misses than hits. It’s a bad sign when Madame Web is the most memorable film of 2024, but for all the wrong reasons. These negative feelings are about to change with Dune: Part Two on March 1. The sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mission to unite the Fremen people of Arrakis in a war against the Harkonnens.
After watching Dune: Part Two, are you craving more sci-fi adventures? Below, we selected five great sci-fi films to explore after your trip to Arrakis. Our picks include a Christopher Nolan spy thriller, one of the greatest sequels ever, and an earlier film in Villeneuve’s filmography.
Tenet (2020)
When it comes to blowing the audience’s mind, Nolan is as elite as it gets. From The Dark Knight and Inception to Interstellar and Oppenheimer, Nolan is one of one in terms of eventizing films and creating cinematic experiences. I mention this to say Nolan outdid himself with Tenet, his 2020 sci-fi spy espionage thriller. A CIA operative known as the Protagonist (John David Washington) is recruited to join a secret organization, Tenet, that practices time travel to alter the course of history and prevent global war.
The Protagonist teams up with the mysterious Neil (Robert Pattinson) to travel backward through time to stop a future attack that could lead to Armageddon. To say Tenet is confusing would be an understatement. Tenet requires multiple viewings to fully understand the science and plot. Once you realize the details, Tenet becomes an entertaining, James Bond-esque thrill ride.
Stream Tenet on Prime Video, Apple, YouTube, or Google.
Arrival (2016)
Villeneuve is on an impressive run of critical hits. Since 2013, Villeneuve has directed seven beloved films with near-universal acclaim. If you have to pick one of the seven that best represents Villeneuve, I’d go with Arrival, 2016’s Academy Award-winning sci-fi mystery starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Extraterrestrial creatures have arrived in giant spaceships in 12 global locations. One of the spacecraft is hovering over Montana.
Linguist Louise Banks (Adams) is recruited by the U.S. Army to establish communications with the aliens on the Montana spaceship. With the help of physicist Ian Donnelly (Renner), Banks makes progress with the aliens as she begins to decipher their symbols. With several countries on the brink of war, Banks is running out of time and needs to figure out what the aliens want immediately. With stunning cinematography and a memorable twist, Arrival is a terrific sci-fi drama packed with emotion, grief, and love.
Stream Arrival on Peacock or Paramount+.
The Creator (2023)
Gareth Edwards brings the war between humanity and AI to the battlefield in The Creator. Set in 2070, the world is still reeling from a nuclear warhead dropped by AI over Los Angeles 15 years prior. Most of the world has turned against AI, while several Asian countries choose to embrace it. After losing his wife (Gemma Chan) in an attack, Joshua (John David Washington), a jaded ex-special forces agent, is recruited by the U.S. Army to hunt and kill the Creator, the architect behind a weapon that could end the war by destroying mankind.
Joshua reluctantly accepts and joins a team of elite operatives for a mission in enemy territory. Joshua survives an enemy attack and reaches the weapon. Much to his surprise, the all-powerful weapon is an AI in the form of a young girl, “Alphie” (Madeleine Yuna Voyles). Like Godzilla, The Creator features two great acts and one act littered with problems. However, The Creator is a technical marvel with breathtaking visual effects from Edwards. The Creator was made for around $80 million, yet it looks better than 90% of films that cost over $200 million.
Stream The Creator on Hulu.
Aliens (1986)
If Avatar: The Way of Water taught us one thing, never bet against “Big Jim,” aka James Cameron. Many doubted Cameron’s ability to bring in an audience for a sequel 13 years in the making. Yet, Big Jim delivered as The Way of Water became the third-highest-grossing film of all time. It’s not the first time Cameron defied expectations. In 1986, Cameron wrote and directed Aliens, the sequel to 1979’s groundbreaking sci-fi horror, Alien. How could Cameron follow up on one of the most influential science fiction films ever?
Once again, Cameron exceeded all expectations. Aliens is arguably the superior Alien film, a credit to the writing, direction, and visual effects of the Oscar-winning filmmaker. After being in stasis for over 55 years, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is rescued in space. After waking up, Ripley is recruited by the Marines to join a mission to LV-426 and investigate a colony believed to be overrun by aliens. Upon arrival, Ripley’s worst fears are confirmed as the aliens destroyed the entire colony except for a young girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). Ripley defeated one Xenomorph before. Is she capable of defeating an army of aliens?
Stream Aliens on Max.
Total Recall (1990)
If you’re looking to experience another red, sandy planet that resembles Arrakis, head to Mars in Total Recall, Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 sci-fi action feature based on a short story by Philip K. Dick. In 2084, people live on Mars under the rule of Vilos Cohaagen (Ronny Cox). On Earth, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) dreams of heading to Mars, but he can’t afford the expensive trip. If he can’t go to Mars, Quaid signs up for the next best thing, Rekall, which is a company that implants false memories into people’s brains.
Quaid chooses to set his memories on Mars. However, the procedure goes haywire as Quaid learns his life was a false memory. With his sense of reality blurred, Quaid must evade the people who want him dead long enough to discover the truth about his life. If you prefer more action in your sci-fi adventure, Total Recall is for you, a film that packs a Schwarzenegger-sized punch.
Rent Total Recall on Prime Video, Apple, YouTube, or Google.
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